Your Best Prog Sounding Album ?

[DoubleDrummer]

What is that one prog album you have (vinyl, CD, tape, whatever) that you consider the best example of audiophile/reference quality ?

I own a Japanese Remaster CD of RTF's ROMANTIC WARRIOR that is an absolutely beautiful piece of work.
It sounds exceptionally outstanding in the car or on the big rig at home.
I bought the original cassette tape when it was released in 1976..............the first CD release in the 80's..............and this gem over ten years ago; still awesome music.

[AndiSexgang]

Tbh, I don't pay any attention to sound quality at all, I just listen to the music. The only time I look up is if I hear dirt on the needle or if a cd starts jumping or if my wifi stops Spotify.

[miamiscot]

My original Fragile on vinyl sounds better than anything I've heard since...

[progman1975]

Anything that involves Steven Wilson

[Dean Watson]

From a sonic perspective only I'd say The Road Home - Jordan Rudess. From a purely enjoyable perspective I'd say The Way Up - Pat Metheny Group.

[Nearfest2]

Peter Gabriel's "Security"

[arabicadabra]

Probably SNOW by Spock's Beard. I just love the production on that one.

[Sputnik]

Landberk - Indian Summer. I'm not an audiophile and don't usually pay much attention to sound quality, but I'm always taken at how rich, organic and full this particular album sounds.

Bill

[miamiscot]

Probably SNOW by Spock's Beard. I just love the production on that one.

Pretty much anything Rich Mouser touches is gold.

[raconteur troubadour]

I Robot - Alan Parsons Project - all versions, CD, LP, half speed re-master.

[adap2it]

King Crimson-Larks Tongues in Aspic, the original recording...

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

MoFi gold disc of Quadrophenia.

[nosebone]

What is that one prog album you have (vinyl, CD, tape, whatever) that you consider the best example of audiophile/reference quality ?

I own a Japanese Remaster CD of RTF's ROMANTIC WARRIOR that is an absolutely beautiful piece of work.
It sounds exceptionally outstanding in the car or on the big rig at home.
I bought the original cassette tape when it was released in 1976..............the first CD release in the 80's..............and this gem over ten years ago; still awesome music.

I don't have the Japanese remaster CD, but my vinyl of Romantic Warrior is special.

Amazing sounds, especially the drums.

[moecurlythanu]

First to come to mind, as it usually does when this question comes up, is Mike Oldfield -Tubular Bells II. The Alan Parsons Project releases sound great, not sure if they fall into the Prog-Rock category or not, though.

[proggy_jazzer]

There are dozens of great-sounding prog albums in my collection but given the technology available to the band at the time, for overall honesty and fidelity I never cease to marvel at my Charisma CD of Trespass. The intimacy of the vocals and the clarity of the guitars (esp. the 12-strings) along with the organ/mellotron/piano orchestrations give this album a special sheen that always satisfies my ears.

[Brian]

Supertramp Crime of the Century, although I am sure I will think of a few others, dynamic range on the mo fi is 16.

[markwoll]

I have been impressed with 801-Live for a long time.

[MudShark22]

While not pure prog (as if THAT exists):

Extreme's "III Sides..." is a phenomenal production of stunning clarity. In a collection of over 600 discs, that one is my reference for trying new speakers.

[MJBrady]

I will always have a softspot for the 1st s/t Ambrosia lp, reading about it's production makes one realize just how painstaking the process of recorded excellence was back in 1973/74.

Not going to include the Steven Wilson collection of reworked albums.

Of course today there are so many great sounding recordings, one has to have a critical ear to really set one above another, it helps if you like the music as well.
The recent Kaipa recordings sound really nice.
Deus Ex Machina - ImParis has great texture and openess.
Ske - 2018 - 1001 Autunni
Shpongle - Codex VI

[Progbear]

Maybe Dark Side of the Moon? I have to admit I don’t really think a lot of prog has really good sounding, crystal clear production. When I think “good production,” I think of something like Steely Dan’s Aja, my go-to stereo test disc.

[Facelift]

Stuff that came immediately to mind -

Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (original vinyl and recent reissue)
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (original vinyl)
Pink Floyd - The Wall (original vinyl)
Rush - Moving Pictures (original vinyl and recent reissue)

[JJ88]

There are dozens of great-sounding prog albums in my collection but given the technology available to the band at the time, for overall honesty and fidelity I never cease to marvel at my Charisma CD of Trespass. The intimacy of the vocals and the clarity of the guitars (esp. the 12-strings) along with the organ/mellotron/piano orchestrations give this album a special sheen that always satisfies my ears.

It's definitely not an audiophile recording IMHO, but the difference between that old Charisma CD compared to the 1994 'remaster' shames the latter. The best sounding of the 70s Genesis albums for me are Selling England... and Trick.

I think the best ELP recording might be the live Pictures..., and the debut is also nicely done.

Beyond what's been mentioned already (Pink Floyd, Parsons etc.) I would agree with Progbear. I'm not sure how much of this music is really demo-level quality in terms of production. But that certainly doesn't matter to me, I listen to a lot of pretty rough sounding mono recordings.

[Kavus Torabi]

Mr Bungle: California
Don Caballero: American Don

I used these two as reference when choosing studio monitors fifteen years ago and probably would again.

Also, not quite so prog but, to these ears, Beck’s Mutations has always been a sonic, if not compositional, favourite.

[starless and bible black]

For me it's Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon (30th Anniversary SACD version with 5.1 mix by James Guthrie).
Runners up are Yes' Blu-Ray releases of The Yes Album thru Relayer and KC's DVD-A releases of ITCOTCK thru Discipline.

[Kcrimso]

Here is some of my favourite albums sound-wise:

David Sylvian: Gone To Earth
Mike Oldfield: Amarok
Univers Zero: Live
Present: High Infidelity
John McLaughlin Trio: Live At The Royal Festival Hall
Roger Waters: Amused To Death
Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd: The Wall
Bent Knee: Say So
Bob Dylan: Merci
Massive Attack: Mezzanine

Ok, all of those are not so proggy...